This paper presents the firsts steps of the development of a new spectropolarimeter with a high potential for space applications. The instrument, designed on birefringent elements, avoids the need for rotating elements and may cover the entire Stokes vector on a large wavelength band. In addition, the architecture of the modulator enables a very high polarimetric efficiency, placing this concept above classical spectropolarimeters. A new proof for the solution uniqueness is presented, and base on that, a thorough analysis of the polarimetric efficiency.

Our contribution intends to present the obtained performances of the NSIE instrument, a new near-infrared fiber-fed spectrograph developed at the University of Liège. This instrument was developed, aligned and tested at the Centre Spatial de Liège and first light was achieved in October 2017. This paper will go through the alignment process and optical performance verification to eventually introduce the first light observations. The final location of NSIE will be the TIGRE telescope located in La Luz, Mexico. The observational data provided by this instrument will help several research groups from the University of Liège to study massive stars. In particularly, evolution models will be improved through the comparison of the collected spectra with theoretical models. This collaboration will therefore contribute to a better understanding of massive stars and the mechanisms that take place within these extraordinary objects.

In our contribution, we outline the different steps in the design of a fiber-fed spectrographic instrument for stellar astrophysics. Starting from the derivation of theoretical relationships from the scientific requirements and telescope characteristics, the entire optical design of the spectrograph is presented. Specific optical elements, such as a toroidal lens, are introduced to improve the instrument's efficiency. Then the verification of predicted optical performances is investigated through optical analyses, such as resolution checking. Eventually, the star positioning system onto the central fiber core is explained.

In our contribution, we outline the different steps in the design of a fiber-fed spectrographic instrument that intends to observe massive stars. Starting from the derivation of theoretical relationships from the scientific requirements and telescope characteristics, the entire optical design of the spectrograph is presented. Specific optical elements, such as a toroidal lens, are introduced to improve the instrument's performances. Then, the verification of predicted optical performances is investigated through optical analyses such as resolution checking. Eventually, the star positioning system onto the central fiber core is explained.